An Ethnographic Descriptive Approach to Video Microanalysis

In the ethnographically informed approach to observational research one studies everyday settings, and seeks to understand actions and meanings in their social context (Silverman 1993; Wolcott 1990). This approach is a strong tool for investigating interactions of a more or less implicit character. Combined with video micro analysis, the ethnographic approach is, furthermore, very useful in recognising small indicators of communication and social interaction in music therapy with clients with severe communicative limitations. Especially with this client group, the method can be used to confirm or reject interpretations of the child's actions as being social attempts to take part in the interaction, even though these actions may seem vague, arbitrary or even ambivalent.

Because the method is suitable for describing what actually happens between client and therapist, it can also be used when the therapist, student or trainer wants to be aware of interactions taking place partly or fully outside of the therapist's awareness, either because they are taken for granted or because of "blind spots" in the way they are perceived. The following describes some selected relevant steps of analysis, illustrated by a case from my doctoral study on music therapy interactions with children with severe functional limitations, including children with autism (Holck 2002).